Electric-circuit track-instrument



(No Model.)

C. A. SCOTT.

ELECTRIC CIRCUIT TRACK INSTRUMENT. No. 283,152( A Patented Aug.' 14, 188s.

N. FrzwsA Phomumagmpner. wmmgw". nc.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

CHARLES A. SCOTT, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IfliLEorFnc-oluCuITTRAoK-INSTRUMENT.`

SPECIFICATION forming-part of Letters' Patent No. @83,152, dated` August 14, 1883.

` Application ined Aprn 26, 1883. (No model.) y f To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. SCOTT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts,

have invented or discovered a new and` useful Improvement in Electric-Circuit Track-Inspecincation, in which-like letters indicating like `parts- Figure 1` represents inside elevation `my improved `track-instrument for making and breaking electric `circuits applied to a railway-track, and Fig. `2 illustrates a modication thereof.

My present invention relates to a track-instrument of that class inwhich the trainitself is the active or operative agent in operating the electric-circuit make-and-break mechanism. While not limiting myself as tothe uses to whichit may be applied, I have especially. designed itfor use in connection with electric circuits for setting or shifting signals, operating annunciators or bell-lingers, or for operating the electric locks of signal, switch, and

\ `lock-bolt levers or their connections, as the y along, moving, say,from the right.

i same are or may be organizedfor use onor along and in connection with railway-lines.

At the proper point in the track, and in close proximity toone of the rails R of atrack, andjon any suitable pedestal, A, I arrange a vertical post, a, with its upper end in position to be engaged by the car-wheels B as theypass This post is pivoted in an insulated support, b, and it.

"has a tail-piece, a', extending outsomewhat like one of thev arms of a bell-crank or bent lever, which the device a a as a whole resembles. This device is held in its normal position by means of two springs, c c, arranged on a guide-bolt, c', and the` tension of which is regulated bya screw-nut and washer, c2, whereby the springs bearing on the arm a', one above and the other beneath, (or, if so preferred, acting horizontally on the front and rear edges of the post a,) may keepthe post c in position to be; engaged by the wheels and returnit to position after a wheel or wheels have passed. The end of the arm a has a path of `motion when moved Such that it will engage the end of a tilting lever, e, pivoted to a post, d. The lever e has a counter-weight, e', and its possible range of movement is limited by suitable stops, as at d d2. Two contacts, s s", are employed, of which one, at least, is movable, which in this case, as illustrated, is the springcontact s. These contacts are insulated `from each other except at the contact point or points, and they constitute the terminals of the linewires Vr r, which `lead to an electro-magnet properly arranged in connection with appro- `priate ,mechanismto do the work desired.

The weight e" will suffice to keep theterminals s s normally in contact, and so keep the circuit closed; `but when a wheel, B, tilts or rocks the post a to the left, the free end of the arma will engagethe adjacent end of the lever e, raise it, and depress the opposite end, so as to clear or move back from the movable terminal s, and allow the latter to spring away from and break contact with the other terminal, s', and thereby break the circuit through` l Wires r r. This circuit is again closed by the action of the Weight e,-,but I do not limit mytact with the other when `one or both are movable, or by moving into and out of the circuit any suitable insulated conductor when the terminals are Xed; and to illustrate the latter construction I have shown in Fig. 2 a top or plan view ofthe lever carrying an insulated contact-piece, t', preferably of spring metal, and adapted in one position to close a circuit through two fixed terminals, s s; also, by such reversal of the connections as will come 'within the skill of the constructor, the apparatus may be arranged to operate in like manner with a normally open or-broken circuit, and such circuit be closed by the action of the wheels on the post a. f

In further illustration of the present invention, I have shown inFig. 3 a double-acting track-instrument embracing substantially the same features of construction, but with the adroo dition of another armor tail-piece, a2,` which, y in connection with devices like those already instead of break-the circuit through the Wires,

o' r,- but as the arm a2, in such case, will move down, no effect will be produced as regards the circuit through the wires o" 1",- but with a train moving the other way the circuit through wires r i will be broken and the other circuit through the wires r r will .be unaffected; but the contacts may be arranged so that either or both circuits shall be normally open or normally closed; or either tail-piece a or a2, or both, if so preferred, 4may be arranged above the free end of the corresponding lever, e, so as to reverse the action described; orone may be above and one below, so that both circuits will be simultaneously changed; or the other end of each or either tail-piece a a may engage the free end of its lever e both above and below, as may be preferred. j

Either of the circuits referred to may lead to any suitable device or mechanism for actuating a visual or audible signal or a lock, or for other similar use; but separate applications will be made for apparatus so organized. One set of springs, c c, will ordinarily be enough to restore the part a tov a vertical position, or two sets,as shown, may be used.

I am aware of the construction of circuitcloser shown and' described in English Patent No. 1,375 of 1878, and disclaim the same.

I claim herein as my invention- 1. A bent-lever mechanism, a a', pivoted in position adjacent to a track-rail, with the endl of one arm in the path of the car-wheels, so as to be engaged thereby, and the end of the other arm arranged to operate, when moved, a circuit-changing mechanism, in combination with springs c c, one on each side of one arm of the wheel-actuated lever, substantially as set forth.

2. The pivoted bent-lever mechanism a a', held in and returned to normal position by springs c c, in combination with a weighted and pivoted circuit-changing lever, e, `and stops d d2, substantially as set forth.

8. The bent-lever mechanism having a vertical arm, a a, pivoted in position adjacent to atrack-rail, and with its upwardly-projecting end arranged in the path of a car-wheel, and having arms a a2, in combination with springs cc and two circuit-changing levers, e e, ar!

ranged to operate the terminals of different circuits, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a pivoted bent lever,

a a', springs c c', eounterweighted lever e, stops d d2, and terminals s s, substantially as set forth.

5. An electric-circuit make-and-break appaaffecting the electrical condition of theother,

circuit, and means for restoring the vertical arm to proper position to be operated by a train moving either Way, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. v

CHARLES A. soor'fr.

Witnesses:

JOHN V. YOUNG, PATRICK .IAMEs LANE. 

